Wanted to know how you get tested for Igenix? I ordered their kits but was told I needed a doctor to sign off on the labs and read the results. The problem is finding a doctor who will do this. Can you please share how you used the test?
Thank you

Welcome, Toni!

You can get any Dr. to sign it - an MD, ND or even a chiropractor.

IF you can't find one willing to do that, then you can go through TrueHealth Labs - it may cost a bit more:

/www.truehealthlabs.com


If you want the best bang for your buck, just do the Lyme WB Igm and IgG (skip the Elisa or IFA)

It is $210 directly through Igenex...but most likely $300 with TrueHealth.

I found a LLND to do the blood draw. I just phoned around to find out who had a test kit. I did have to pay for her visit as well though.
So that is another option for you...

Hi Toni,
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

If you haven't yet, please do read through our "new to Lyme?" thread that stays at the top of the forum, as it's packed with a ton of helpful and important information.

Some labs will do a blood draw without a doctors order, but those are getting to be harder and harder to find. You will need to just find a practitioner that will allow their name to be used to get this test - you don't have to continue to use them, so nearly any type of practitioner will work. It will depend on your state laws as to who can order blood work or not. Here in Arkansas, only MD's are allowed to do blood tests.

You may be able to find help in finding a place that will order the blood draw if you are willing to share the area that you are looking for help in. Pick a larger city near you, not necessarily the area you live in, but where you will likely find a doctor.

Welcome to the community, we are glad you found us!

I agree with Igenix being the way to go.

Remember, though, if you have symptoms of Lyme and co infections, you can treat based on that.

Do you remember an encounter with a tick?

hollsya said...
I definitely have lyme--had the tick bite and rash and flu-like symptoms and everything. But I want to do Igenix so I have a "positive" result to show friends/family who don't believe I have lyme. I should def get a positive with Igenix, right?

No, not necessarily. (unfortunately)


The Igenex Western Blot is based on the ability of your immune system to mount a response to the bacteria and produce antibodies. These antibodies are needed to pull a positive western blot.

Often when we have lyme disease, our immune system is suffering from being ill for an extended period of time...and is suppressed...and not able to mount a good response and produce antibodies.

There are still many false negatives.

Did you take a picture of the rash? That should be proof enough for your friends/family.

Thanks for the info. At this point, I doubt lyme will ever show up in my bloodwork so I'm gonna think long and hard about the IGeneX tests since they're not exactly cheap. And sadly, no, I didn't get a picture of the lyme rash. When I got the tick bite, years ago, camera phones were just starting to increase in popularity and I hadn't jumped on the bandwagon yet, lol.